- In this classic short story by Arthur C. Clarke, the remnants of a now-destroyed civilization are found within the Phoenix Nebula, the leftovers of a supernova that was once visible from Earth. Name it!
- The play “A Dixie Christmas Carol,” an adaptation of Dickens’ classic tale, was written by what well-known SF author?
- In Allen Steele’s Hugo-nominated “Zwarte Piet’s Tale,” Santa Claus comes to the colonies on what planet?
- Jack McDevitt’s “Promises to Keep” is the story of a mission to save a woman stranded on Callisto five Christmases previously. Callisto is one of which planet’s moons?
- This author’s “The Pony” is a cautionary tale about getting just what you want for Christmas. Name the author, who writes of Impossible Things!
- In this 1964 movie “classic,” the Martians kidnap Santa because there is nobody on Mars to give their children presents. Name this Christmas turkey!
- These authors, proteges of Philip K. Dick, collaborated on “We Traverse Afar,” a bittersweet story of love and loss at Christmastime. They sometimes write as “William Ashbless.” Name them!
- In Isaac Asimov’s “The Heavenly Host,” a young colonist and an alien help an entire planet find The True Meaning of Christmas(tm). What do the colonists call the aliens?
A) Varmints
B) Bugs
C) Angels
D) Wheels
E) Devils - In this classic Christmas episode of The Twilight Zone, Art Carney is a drunken department-store Santa who finds a magic bag. What was its title?
- In Futurama’s only Christmas episode, what does the 8-foot-tall Santa robot do if he finds you on Christmas Eve?
(Answers below the fold)
- “The Star.” The supernova had been the Star of Bethlehem
- Orson Scott Card
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Connie Willis
- Santa Claus Conquers the Martians. Side note: This features Pia Zadora as Girmar, one of the Martian kids (she started doing bad movies early).
- Tim Powers and James Blaylock
- D) Wheels
- Night of the Meek. Legend has it Serling wrote the episode just to see Art Carney play Santa Claus.
- He rips your head off and stuffs you full of toys. The robot, voiced by John Goodman, has a malfunction in his program that makes him think everybody is naughty.